Leaders of the Provincial Border Guard Command presented warm blankets to the people of Long Phieng commune.

In Long Sap commune, the spring atmosphere was even more vibrant as people gathered at the Long Sap International Border Gate Border Guard Station to participate in activities of the "Spring Border Guard Program: Warming the Hearts of the People" in 2026. Tet gifts including rice, warm blankets, warm clothes, mosquito nets, and other essential necessities were handed directly to policy beneficiary families and households in difficult circumstances by border guard officers and soldiers. In addition, students in the border area participating in the "Nurturing Green Seeds of the Border - Stepping Towards the Future" model also received gifts and scholarships, further motivating them to excel in their studies.

This year, as part of the program, participating units also organized free medical check-ups, health consultations, and medication distribution; opened "zero-cost" stalls and food stalls; offered free haircuts, made banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), and pounded banh day (another type of Vietnamese rice cake)... attracting a large number of people and creating a joyful and warm atmosphere. Mr. Trang Ly Po, from A La village, Long Sap commune, emotionally said: "Today, my family and the people in the commune are very happy and excited to receive many gifts from border guards and benefactors. This care has given us more confidence to work and produce with peace of mind, and to wholeheartedly cooperate with the authorities to firmly protect the sovereignty and security of the border."

The Long Sap International Border Gate Border Guard Station, in coordination with sponsoring units, awarded scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Sharing about the preparation process for the program, Lieutenant Colonel Lo Van Dien, Political Officer of the Long Sap International Border Gate Border Guard Station, said: The unit proactively mobilized resources early on, with the desire to provide timely support to the people and students who are still facing many difficulties. Through the program, the bond between the military and the people has become even stronger.

Meanwhile, in Long Phieng commune, the "Spring Border Guard Program: Warming the Hearts of the Villagers" in 2026, organized by the Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station in coordination with the commune's People's Committee, was held in Pa Kha 2 village. Despite the harsh cold of the border region in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), from early morning, the villagers donned warm clothes and traveled long distances to the program's venue with great enthusiasm. At the village's stadium, the organizing committee distributed 300 gift packages, each worth 500,000 - 800,000 VND, including rice, warm blankets, mattresses, and essential necessities, to households in difficult circumstances; awarded 3 gifts and scholarships to children adopted by the Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station; and provided free medical examinations and medicine to nearly 500 people in Long Phieng commune and Xieng Kho district, Hua Phan province (Laos).

Units presented Tet gifts to the people of Long Sap commune at the "Spring Border Guard Program: Warming the Hearts of the Villagers" in 2026.

Comrade Vi Tuan Bao, Secretary of the Party Committee of Long Phieng commune, shared: For many years, officers and soldiers of the Son La Provincial Border Guard have always stood side by side with the locality in socio-economic development, poverty alleviation, new rural construction, and caring for the lives of people in border areas. The "Spring Border Guard Program: Warming the Hearts of the People" contributes to ensuring social security in the area.

From 2016 to the present, the Provincial Border Guard Command has organized 10 provincial-level "Spring Border Guard Programs to Warm the Hearts of the People," distributing over 33,000 Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts to policy beneficiary families, poor and near-poor households, and influential individuals; and providing scholarships to over 3,000 students in border areas through the "Helping Children Go to School" and "Children Adopted by Border Guard Posts" programs. In addition, 562 national flags and portraits of President Ho Chi Minh were donated; and over 17,500 people received free medical examinations and medicine. The total value of these activities exceeded 36 billion VND.

Military medical officers from the Chiềng Tương Border Guard Post provided health check-ups and consultations for the people of Lóng Phiêng commune.

Colonel Pham Tung Lam, Political Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard Command, informed: To celebrate the Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse), the Provincial Border Guard Command selected Xuan Nha commune to organize the provincial-level program "Border Guard Spring, Warming the Hearts of the People". The program attracted the participation of a large number of cadres, Party members, and people. This year, the Provincial Border Guard Command and sponsoring units donated more than 1,000 gifts to poor and near-poor households in Xuan Nha and Chieng Son communes. These gifts helped the people celebrate Tet more fully.

The "Springtime at the Border: Warming the Hearts of the People" program has become a bridge of love between the military and the people, so that every spring, the people in border areas feel warmer and more confident, joining forces with border guards to maintain peace on the nation's frontier.

People from Long Phieng commune participate in tug-of-war competition at the 2026 Border Guard Spring Program to warm the hearts of the villagers.

Text and photos: Thu Thảo